Diagnostic Notes

Symptoms:

Puccinia asparagi is a macrocyclic and autoecious fungi. Usually symptoms are first noticeable on the growing shoots in spring/summer with a latent period of 8 to 12 days (Johnson 1990). Basidiospores, aeciospores and urediniospores can infect asparagus. The pycnia are produced about 7 days after infection by basidiospores, and subsequently produce aecia (oval yellowish spots).Urediniospores are the most common inoculum and produce blister-like pustules (uredinia), which are filled with powdery masses of spores. The primary uredinia produce by hyphal growth, successive rings of uredinia for several weeks. With the appearance of secondary uredinia, brown teliospores form among the golden urediniospores in the primary uredium. By the time the terciary uredinia appear, the primary uredinia are filled with teliospores (Lubani & Linn (1962). Infected stems begins to yellow, defoliate and die back prematurely (Irvine & Beasley 2004). Severe rust infections stunt or kill young asparagus shoots, causing foliage to fall prematurely, and reduce the ability of the plant to store food reserves in the crown (University of Illinois 1990)